We have loved cleaning your Carpets in Merton for over five years now, but carpets have a much longer history and depending on your Carpet type, we adapt our approach to bring your carpets back to life.

But if you decide to change your carpet, you need to understand which type you should buy to suit your needs.

-Brief History of Carpet and RugsAlthough it would be difficult to pinpoint exactly when carpets and rugs were initially invented, suffice to say that there is evidence to suggest that Carpets made of sheep and goats wool, were spun and woven in around 6000 BC.

The oldest rug in the world, namely the Pazryk carpet, has been carbon dated to 500 BC. It was discovered within a flooded tomb of a tribal chieftain or a possible Prince, in the Pazyryk Valley, of the Altai Mountains in Siberia. The freezing temperatures preserved the carpet until the tomb was opened in 1949. It is currently displayed at Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

King Henry VIII and Cardinal Wosley amongst others, finally imported them into England in around 1540 AD.

Types of Carpets

WovenWoven carpets are created using a loom, a similar process used to weave fabrics and tapestries. They are more expensive and are usually used in places of luxury and prestige for instance high end hotels.

AxminsterThe carpet pile is placed into the backing as it is tightly woven and cut, this gives it a U-shape that makes its feel velvety, durable and strong. The process is versatile providing a good choice of colours and designs.

WiltonThe oldest method of carpet weaving; similar to the Axminster process, apart from being continuously woven throughout. The carpet is then cut to create loop textures making it both luxurious and durable.

LOOP PILEBerberThe Berber carpets are named after the Berber tribes of North Africa and Asia. They consist of a handmade thick wool, nylon, polypropylene or a blend of these fibres, providing durability with a cushioned effect.

The Berber carpets are not recommended if you have pets with claws such as cats, as the fibres are easily pulled out.

Level Loop PileAs the name suggests a Level loop pile is made by woven even loops in both ends of the carpet backing. This type of carpet is durable with a natural look, even when made from synthetic fibres. They can be easy to clean and are good if you have a high traffic area.

Multi-Level Loop PileSimilar to the loop pile, apart from the varying loop heights (usually two or three) to create a random textured appearance. These carpets are good for children’s rooms as they are good for hiding stains, but they also need to be regularly cleaned to stay hygienic and free of allergens.

CUT PILE The cut pile is most popular type of carpet. Cutting looped carpet fibres at the top creates cut pile with yarn bundles standing straight. Cut pile is firmer and less resistant to being compressed.

Flat WeaveThis process is the same as Wilton carpets. The flat weave loop pile is woven across a wider area creating a flat textured effect.

SaxonySaxony carpets are tightly entwined cut piles that are set straight using heat. The individual fibre tips create a soft elegant texture. They are best suited for children's rooms as they conceal stains and marks, these carpets have medium durability.

FriezeFrieze (free-say) is a tightly twisted pile carpet cut to a low pile with a dense surface, providing a curly coarse, random surface texture, that hides footprints, dirt and dust. The result is a highly durable carpet suitable for high traffic areas such as passages and living rooms.

TwistA Twisted carpet is very popular due its hardwearing properties. It is twisted tightly to give a defined, textured surface that is ideal for high traffic areas. They are hard wearing and less likely to show indentations such as footprints.

VelvetVelvet/Plush carpets are gently twisted into a smooth softer texture so as to achieve an overall luxurious finish. This type of carpet tends are prone to highlight every indentation and should be used in rooms with light use such as bedrooms.

Shag PileThe popular Shag Pile was the trend back in the 70’s, as is making a comeback! The deep soft pile can be up to 50mm long. However, it loses its bounce, flattens easily and is not very durable.